Author(s):

Betsy Sinclair, The University of Chicago

Asa Hopkins, California Institute of Technology

R. Michael Alvarez, California Institute of Technology

Abstract:

This paper examines the effect of an entire campaign using a randomized field experiment
where the treatment consists of campaign decisions made by a campaign manager. In contrast
to the majority of the field experiments found in the contemporary get-out-the-vote
literature, this paper studies the actual behavior of a campaign within a particular election
as opposed to studying particular mobilization tactics. Thus, the campaign itself chooses
which method to contact each individual within the randomly assigned treatment group.
Contacts are made via face-to-face canvassing, phone calls, emails, and doorhangers and
consist of experienced volunteers making partisan appeals. We observe a large treatment
effect of campaign contact despite a small number of face-to-face contacts, suggesting that
the targeting strategy of the campaign manager is particularly effective.